When Will the Next Star Wars Movie Drop After Mandalorian? Find Out Now!

It’s been a long time since the vast universe of Star Wars graced our movie theaters—since December 2019 to be precise, with the release of “The Rise of Skywalker.” Less than seven years later, thanks to one of its hit series, the George Lucas franchise is making a comeback to the silver screen, and “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is just the beginning as more feature films are already in the pipeline.

Even more exciting, the next installment is set to premiere on May 26, 2027. It won’t be a continuation of Jon Favreau’s film, nor will it be an “Episode X,” but rather a brand new chapter. Shawn Levy, known for directing the “Night at the Museum” trilogy, “Deadpool & Wolverine,” and several episodes of “Stranger Things” (which he also produced), is adding another cultural icon to his repertoire with “Starfighter,” a film shrouded in mystery at the moment.

What we do know is that the plot unfolds five years after the events of “The Rise of Skywalker,” and will follow a hero who embarks on a significant journey to protect a young boy, leading them across waters as shown in the first (and so far only) released photo.

Ryan Gosling, continuing his foray into science fiction after “Blade Runner 2049” and “Project Last Chance,” will play the lead, while his young counterpart will be portrayed by Flynn Gray, known from “Wednesday.” They will be joined by an impressive cast including Amy Adams, Aaron Pierre (soon to be seen in DC’s “Lanterns”), Mia Goth, and Matt Smith, the former “Doctor Who” star who will play the major antagonist in the film, getting a second chance after his role was cut from “Episode IX” during its turbulent post-production.

To date, it remains unclear whether Smith will portray the character he was initially meant to play in the 2019 film or a different one, but we’re likely to find out soon. It wouldn’t be surprising if Disney and Lucasfilm capitalize on the release of “The Mandalorian and Grogu” to unveil the first glimpses of a film that, given the director’s track record, seems likely to embody the spirit of Amblin productions (like “The Goonies” and “Gremlins”) already seen in “Skeleton Crew” starring Jude Law.

“Once in a Lifetime Opportunity”

In just under twelve months, audiences will experience what promises to be one of the highlights of 2027. A “Star Wars” film is always an event, particularly as this marks Ryan Gosling’s first venture into an established major franchise since “Blade Runner 2049.” Despite frequent (misguided) associations with the Marvel Cinematic Universe by insiders, and rumors that he turned down the role of Joker in “Suicide Squad”—a role that ultimately went to Jared Leto—this represents a significant shift in his career trajectory.

What spurred this change? “It was Shawn Levy’s enthusiasm, his vision, and the script,” Gosling revealed in an interview with io9 last February. “I had always dodged these kinds of roles because they didn’t feel right. I’m glad I waited, because, just like with a book like ‘Project Last Chance’ by Andy Weir, it was worth holding out for. And it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Patience is now our companion as we await the debut of “Starfighter,” in which we expect to see a lightsaber duel, as revealed by Shawn Levy himself. He recounted how Tom Cruise visited the set during this sequence and even took over the camera, unconcerned about getting his shoes dirty. It remains to be seen whether he will be credited in the film.